Kendama is an addictive wooden skill toy that comes from Japan. It helps strengthen hand-eye coordination along with balance and reflexes. It is a toy for all ages and starting to use this toy from a young age can help a person master many tricks that professionals can do with ease.

Kendama has been around for many years but it has recently surfaced here in the United States as well as many other places around the globe. It has been said by many that it helps relieve stress due to the fact that it distracts one’s mind and can be used to pass the time. Sophomore Logan Schlappi is one of many that has had time to have fun with the Kendama.

“It is honestly really challenging but it is extremely fun to play with when I’m bored,” Schlappi said.

Kendama has also grown to be a normal pastime in many other places around the world. In the United Kingdom, they hold a worldwide tournament where players from around the globe can come and show off their skills. Germany is home of one of the companies that creates this toy, US Krom. US Krom originally started in the United States, but it has become such a big company that it has started to spread to multiple other countries.

Another known brand that creates this toy is actually the biggest company in the United States, Kendama USA. They recruit Kendama players to be on the KUSA professional team which stretches from the west to east coast with players of all different ages.

One of the main KUSA professionals’ name is TJ Kolesnik. Kolesnik has his own personalized Kendama called the “Make Waves Pro Model.” He gets to travel the world with the KUSA professionals to conventions, challenges and world cups where 150 or more professionals try to win the world cup and be ranked the best player in the world.

In one of his KUSA pro interviews from the official KUSA website, Kolesnik talked about how he has had a love for Kendama from the beginning. He decided to watch lots of tutorials and practice at any time he could which led him to become a KUSA pro.

Kendama has made its way into the United States because of all the companies promoting and giving reasons to players to truly practice and get better at the game. It is a new way to kill time and it is easy enough for anyone to try.